CPU
GPU
Pentium E6500
Pentium Extreme Edition 965
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Pentium E6500 is positioned at rank 921 and the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 is on rank 1119, so the Pentium E6500 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium E6500
Performance Per Dollar Pentium Extreme Edition 965
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium E6500 | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Presler (2005−2007) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium E6500 | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+909%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Pentium E6500 and Pentium Extreme Edition 965
Pentium E6500
The Pentium E6500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 August 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.93 GHz, with boost up to 0.93 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,175 points. Launch price was $50.
Pentium Extreme Edition 965
The Pentium Extreme Edition 965 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 March 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Presler (2005−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.733 GHz, with boost up to 0.73 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 1,165 points. Launch price was $999.
Processing Power
The Pentium E6500 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Pentium Extreme Edition 965's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.93 GHz on the Pentium E6500 versus 0.73 GHz on the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 — a 24.1% clock advantage for the Pentium E6500 (base: 2.93 GHz vs 3.733 GHz). The Pentium E6500 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 uses Presler (2005−2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium E6500 scores 1,175 against the Pentium Extreme Edition 965's 1,165 — a 0.9% lead for the Pentium E6500.
| Feature | Pentium E6500 | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 0.93 GHz+27% | 0.73 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.93 GHz | 3.733 GHz+27% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 2 MB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Presler (2005−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,175 | 1,165 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA775 socket with PCIe 1.1.
| Feature | Pentium E6500 | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
Value Analysis
The Pentium E6500 launched at $84 MSRP, while the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 debuted at $999. At current prices ($10 vs $100), the Pentium E6500 is $90 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium E6500 delivers 117.5 pts/$ vs 11.7 pts/$ for the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 — making the Pentium E6500 the 163.9% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium E6500 | Pentium Extreme Edition 965 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $84-92% | $999 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-90% | $100 |
| Performance per Dollar | 117.5+904% | 11.7 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2006 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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